Swinging shelf for desks, &amp;c.



No. 694,445. Patented Mar. 4, I902. I E. u. TIMMONS.

SWINGING SHELF FOR DESKS, 8w.

A nmiqn filed 3mm 3, 1901.

(No Model.)

' Wii asses UNITED STATES PATENT OE ICE.

ELMER J. TIMMQNS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SWINGING SHELF FOR DESKS, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,445, dated March 4, 1902.

Application filed June 3, 1901. Serial No. 63,019. (No model.

T aZZ 1071,0127 it may concern:

Be it known that LELMER J. .TIMMONs,a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at Oincin-' or desk for holding a type-writer or for any other purpose and adapted to be readily swung to arrange it at the front of the desk or to position itat the end of the same and capable when not in use of being compactly. folded against the end of the desk.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a swinging shelf of this character adapted to dispense with thesliding shelves or supports of roll-top and other desks and capable of being readily mounted on the same and of convenient removal therefrom when desired.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a swinging shelf constructed in accordance with'this invention and shown applied to a desk. Fig; 2 is a perspective View of the shelf detached. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of folding the shelf against the desk.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a rectangular shelf designed to to the desk, at one corner thereof, and the shelfis adapted to swing horizontally on the vertical'pintles of the bracket to arrange it in front of the desk or at the end of the desk, and it is also adapted to swing on the hinges which connect it to the bracket to fold it against the endof the desk, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The supportingb'racket is provided at its top with horizontally-projecting lugs or ears 9, located at the inner face of the supporting-bracket and extending inwa'rd beneath the shelf 1 when the latter is in a horizontal position, and the said shelf is provided with bifurcated plates or leaves 10, perforated for the reception of pintles 11, which pass through the perforated lugs or cars 9 of the supporting-bracket. The pintles are located near the ends of the lugs and are offset sufficiently from the supporting-bracket to provide a space between the same and the shelf when the latter is swung downward to accommodate'a folding brace 12. The folding brace 12 is provided at its inner vertical rear edge with pintles'13 and 14, arranged in perforated cars 15 and 16, projecting laterally from the inner side of the supporting-bracket, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing. By this construction the folding brace is adapted to swing to and from the supporting-bracket 2 to provide a support for holding the shelf in a horizontal position and to permit the same to swing downward for folding. The outward movement of the brace 12 islimited by a keeper 17, secured to the lower face of the shelf and having an angularly-bent downwardly-offset portion which is spaced from the lower face of the shelf to form a recess for the reception of a projecting portion or lug 18 of the folding brace. The folding brace is also provided at its top with inner and outer recesses 19,- adapted when the parts are folded to receive the plates or leaves 10 of the shelf.

The supporting-bracketand the folding brace, which are approximately triangular, as clearly illustrated in Fig; 2, may be constructed of any ornamental design, and the shelf, which may be of any desired size, is adapted to be swung horizontally on the vertical pintles of the supporting-bracket to arrange it either at the front or end of the desk, and it is also capable of swinging vertically on the pintles 11 to arrange it in a horizontal position for use and to fold it when not in use. The upper angle-leaf 7 is preferably provided with a cam edge 20, arranged to form a stop for holding the shelf in either position, and it will enable the shelf to readily ride over it.

It will be seen that the shelf is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength and durability, and that it is adapted to be readily applied to the corner of a desk or table. Also it will be seen that the shelf may be readily swung to the front or end of the desk or table and that when not in use it may be compactly folded against the same and that when in a horizontal position it is firmly held in either position and may be used for supporting type-writers, telephones, and other instruments and forany use to which an ordinary shelf may be put.

WVhat I claim is 1. A device of the class described compris ing a supporting bracket designed to be mounted at the corner of a table or desk and provided at its top with projectinglugs or ears, a shelf having leaves or plates hinged to the lugs or ears of the bracket, the folding brace mounted on the bracket and arranged to swing horizontally and provided with recesses or openings to receive the leaves or plates and the lugs or cars to permit it to fold to a position between the bracket and the shelf, and the keeper 17 arranged beneath the shelf and mounted thereon, said keeper being open at its inner end and arranged in the path of the brace and adapted to be automatically engaged by the same when the brace is swung outward, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a supporting bracket designed to be mounted at the corner of a table or desk and provided at its top with projectinglugs or ears, a shelf provided with leaves or plates hinged to the lugs or ears of the bracket, and the folding brace mounted on the bracket and arranged to swing horizontally and provided with recesses or openings to receive the leaves or plates and the lugs or cars, whereby it is adapted to fold to a position between the bracket and the shelf, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER J. TIMMONS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SCHUCHARDT, FRANK IIOFFMANN. 

